Scalp Problems

Topic Overview

Many people have hair or scalp problems.
Hair may thin or fall out, break off, or
grow slowly. Dandruff or an itching or peeling scalp
may cause embarrassment and discomfort. Hair and scalp problems can be
upsetting, but they usually are not caused by serious medical problems.

Hair loss

Hair loss, including thinning and breaking,
is the most common scalp problem. Most people lose from 50 to 100 hairs per
day.

Hair gradually thins as people age, although not all people
are affected to the same degree. Hereditary thinning or balding is the most
common cause of thinning hair. You can inherit this from either your mother's
or father's side of the family. Women with this trait develop thinning hair,
while men may become completely bald. The condition can start in the teens,
20s, or 30s.

Babies often lose their fine baby hair, which is then
replaced by mature hair. Because of changes in hormones, women often lose hair
for 1 to 6 months after childbirth or after breast-feeding is completed.

Recent surgery, high
fever, or emotional stress. You may have a lot of hair loss 4 weeks to 3 months
after severe physical or emotional stress. This type of hair loss usually stops
within a few months.

Itching, flaking, or crusting of the scalp

Cradle cap, an
oily, yellow crusting on a baby's scalp. It is common in babies and is not
caused by an illness. It does not mean that a baby is not being well cared for. See a picture of
cradle cap.

Dandruff, a shedding of the skin on the scalp that
leaves white flakes on the head, neck, and shoulders. It may be a form of a
skin condition called
eczema, which causes increased shedding of normal
scalp skin cells. Dandruff can also be caused by a
fungal infection. Hormonal or seasonal changes can
make dandruff worse.

Head lice, tiny wingless insects that
cause itching and raw patches on the scalp. Head lice are most common in
school-age children.

Ringworm, a fungal infection of the outer
layer of the scalp and in the hair. It usually causes a rash made up of
circular patches with raised, red edges that resemble worms. The rash spreads
from these edges, often leaving the center clear, giving it a ring
shape.

A cyst, such as an epidermal or
sebaceous cyst, a sac beneath the outer layer of the skin that is filled with a
greasy white material. These cysts most often appear on the scalp, ears, face,
back, or scrotum and are caused by plugged ducts at the site of a hair shaft.
Other problems can develop if the cyst becomes infected.

Home Treatment

Perform a
skin self-exam to help identify suspicious scalp growths. Part your hair to
look at your scalp. If you have trouble seeing your scalp, ask a friend or
family member to check the spot for you.

If your baby has yellow
crusting on his or her scalp, try home treatment for cradle cap.

An hour before shampooing, rub your baby's
scalp with baby oil, mineral oil, or petroleum jelly to help lift the crusts
and loosen scales.

When ready to shampoo, first get the scalp wet,
then gently scrub the scalp with a soft-bristle brush (a soft toothbrush works
well) for a few minutes to remove the scales. You can also try gently removing
the scales with a fine-tooth comb.

Then wash the scalp with baby
shampoo, rinse well, and gently towel dry.

If your baby has a bald spot at the back or side
of the scalp, change your baby's position frequently. Lying in one position may
be causing the bald spot.

There may be other things you can do at home for other kinds of scalp problems.

Symptoms to watch for during home treatment

Prevention

To maintain normal hair production, eat 2
to 3 servings of
protein a day. Protein is found in meat, chicken,
fish, eggs, some cheeses, dried beans, tofu, grains, and nuts. For more
information, see the topic Healthy Eating.

Treat your hair gently.
If your hair breaks easily:

Shampoo, comb, and brush your hair less
frequently.

Use a cream rinse or conditioner after shampooing your
hair. This will make your hair easier to comb and more
manageable.

Use wide-tooth combs and brushes with smooth
tips.

Avoid rough combing, brushing, or rubbing with a towel when
your hair is wet. Wet hair is more fragile and thus more likely to
break.

Avoid hairstyles that pull on your hair, such as ponytails,
cornrows, and braids. The constant pulling causes some hair loss, especially
along the sides of the scalp. If you do use these hairstyles, avoid tight
ponytails and braids. Alternate with looser hairstyles.

Limit your
use of curling irons, flat irons or straighteners, hot rollers, and hair dryers. If you use these products,
use the low heat setting.

Avoid chemical treatments until hair you
have previously treated with chemicals has grown out.

To prevent head lice, do not share hats, combs, or other
items. For more information, see the topic
Lice.

To prevent skin cancer, protect your
scalp (and the rest of your skin) from the sun.

Limit your exposure to the sun, especially from
10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.

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How this information was developed to help you make better health decisions.